21 - 27 November 2011

When St. Lawrence, patron saint of chefs (see blog 11-17 August 2008) was asked by his persecutors to bring out the treasures of the church entrusted to him, he brought out the sick and the poor. He had already sent the Holy Grail to his mum's house for safe keeping. As a custodian of sacred objects or 'sacristan', he did a pretty good job and was roasted to death for his efforts. The modern equivalent is the 'sexton' or 'verger' (in German 'Mesner') and the newly appointed Mesner of Maria Alm church is Simon. There probably won't be any need to send any relics and treasures to his mum, he is not required to do the original grave digging duties of the sexton, although there will be a lot of bell ringing (sadly not of the English variety). He shouldn't face too much persecution but could however still expect a roasting when the Catholic attention to detail is affronted by his general cluelessness about his duties.

14 - 20 November 2011

This week Justine, Simon and Jim climbed the Persailhorn via the Sudwand Klettersteig. November and not a sign of snow at 2400m. The headlines in the local paper claim that it is crisis time for the tourist industry with no chance of snow before Christmas and no chance of making artificial snow with such high temperatures.

31 October - 6 November 2011

They don't do Halloween here. At least that is what Mary and her friends were told at the first door they knocked on and sang their 'Süßes oder Saures' (trick or treat) song. On All Hallows Day they go to church to remember all the martyrs and saints, that's a lot of people, it takes a while. But when they really have their work cut out is the following day, All Souls Day. The faithful on earth remember the faithful departed who are sitting in purgatory and relying on the faithful on earth to pray hard enough to atone for their minor misdemeanors before they can finally pop up to heaven. Perhaps that is why some prefer to have an early night on Halloween. Despite that Mary and her friends managed to collect sweets to last until next year.